Harrow



June

C. F'. MATZ HARROW Filed Oct. 11 1921 5 v n l y ma mi 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 iam@ 3f 3192@ l B,496,242

C. F. MATZ HARROW Filed Oct. ll. 1921 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented June 3, 1924.

STATES PATENT QFFICE.

CHARLES F. MATZ, OF DUBUQUE, IOVA, ASSIGNOR F ONE-THIRD TO MICHAEL G. MATZ AND ONE-THIRD TO BERNARD V. REB/PER, BOTH OF DUBUQUE, IOWA.

HARROW.

Appncation mea october 11, 1921.

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, CHARLES F. MA'rz,

a citizen of the United States, residing at Dubuque, in the county of Dubuque and State of Iowa, have invented certain new and useful improvements in Harrows, of

which the following is aV specification.

This invent-ion relates to harrows and has special reference to spiral harrows. One object of the invention is to provide a no-vel frame which will be strong and durable without being costly to produce and by which the spiral gangs will be permitted sufficient play to accommodate themselves to the surface of the soil over which they trave-l, and another object of the invention is to provide means whereby gangs arranged in tandem may be simultaneously adjusted. Other objects of the. invention will appear in the course of the following description and the invention resides in certain novel fea-tures which will be particularly pointed out in the claims following the description.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanyingr drawings, in which- Figure l is a plan view of one embodiment of my invention;

Fig. 2 is a. view partly in side elevation and partly in longitudinal section;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail section showing the axle mounting;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the. parts whereby the spiral gang is connected with the frame;

F ig. 5 is a detail perspective of parts of the mounting for the inner end of the harrow gang;

Fig. 6 is a similar view of the mounting for the outer end of the gang;

for a roller employedat the inner end of the gang to facilitate the rela-tive movement of the same under the draft bar of the frame;

Fig. 8 is a detail section ofthe spoke;

Fig. 9 is a detail section of the. latch;

Fig. l() is a detail perspective ofthe rack with which the latch cooperates;

Fig. 11 is` adetail perspective of the foot rest.

The harrow frame comprises a draft bar l which is preferably a channel bar of suitable dimensions and to which, intermef diate the ends thereof, is secured a. cross.

Fig. 7 is a detail view showing the mount Serial No. 506,949.

other flange or web. Angle bar braces 3 n are secured at. their front ends tothe sides of the draft bar l at the front end thereof and are secured near their rear ends to the cross bar or beam 2, as clearly shown. Secured to the cross bar or kbeam 2 at or near the ends thereof are clamping plates 4: which extend rearwardly and constitute supports for the pans or troughs 5 constituting the upper members o-f the harrow gangs. These pans or troughs 5 are conveniently formed of channel bars and are adapted to receive large stones or other weights for the purpose of holding the gangs to their work. The pans or troughs 5 extend between the clamping plates t and the rear` ends o-f the braces 3 and on the rear sides of the pans are secured brackets 6 which, as shown most clearly in. Fig. 5, are metallic straps having their intermediate portions offset from their ends whereby a. slot or elongated space 7 is provided between the body of the strap and the pan to accommodate a bolt 8 inserted through the rear end of the adjacent brace 3 and the rear end of the corresponding clamping plate 4: to retain the pan in pro-per position. This arrangement applies the draft or propelling force to the rear side of the pan so that the harrow gang will be drawn over the. field and at the same time permits the gang to be readily adjusted to the desired angle to' the line of draft and also permits it to lhave sufficient independent play vin a vertical p-lane to readily pass over large stones or other obstructions which may be encountered. The inner ends of the pans or troughs project under the draft bar 1 and are thefreby held against rising to such an extent as would impair the efficiency of the harrow, and, to facilitate the relative movement of the parts and avoid undue wear upon the draft bar or the pam-I secure to each pan, at the inner end thereof, a bracket 9 carry ing| a ro-ller' l0 which bears against the.

under side of the draft bar, as shownin Fig. 2. The bracket 9 present-s a socket 11, as shown most clearly in Fig. 8, to receive the pin which carries the roller l0, and a base plate 12 which rests on and is secured to the bottom of the trough, the edge of said base plate` being notched, as at 13, to accommodate the lowermost portion of the periphery of the roller.

I also secure 'rigidly to each end of the pan or trough, a pair of standards 111 which depend from the pan or trough and pass through the ends of a head or bearing block 15, being held therein by Cotter pins or other fastenings fitted to the standards be- .low the bottom of the head. The heads are each provided with a central internally threaded opening 16 which receives the re` spective threaded end of the axle rod 1'7 and in the inner side of each head is an oil chamber 18 which is adapted to receive suitable absorbent packing to hold lubricant supplied thereto from a grease cup 19. At the inner end of the gang, the cup 19 is mounted in the head, as shown in Figs. 3 and 6, and the head is provided with an annular rib or flange 20 on its inner side atits center to fit within the annularrim 21 of a bushing 22, the said rim constitutinga dust cap to prevent accumulation of sand and dirt be-' tween the bushing and the head. The bushing fits closely within the inner end of a sleeve or tube 23 upon which the spokes Q4 are secured and the bushing is further provided with a lug or projection 25 fitting within a Corresponding notch or recess in the end of the sleeve 23 and the hub 26 of the spoke so that the bushing will revolve with they spoke and the sleeve, the axle rod 17 being held stationary by'reason of its threaded connection with the heads 15, as Will be readily understood. It will be readily noted that the lubricant from the cup 19 willy be supplied to the end of the bushing and will work through between the axle rod and the bore of the bushing so that free rotation will be insured. A similar bushing 27 is fitted in the outer end of the sleeve or tube 23 and is secured to the same and the hub 2S of the outer end spoke 29 by a lug 30 on the bushing fitting within a notch in the end of the sleeve. The bushing 27 is provided with a circular head or enlargement 31 at its outer end which fits within a circular flange or rib 32 on the inner side of the adjacent head 15 so as to prevent accumulation of dirt and sand, and the cup 19 at the outer end of theharrow is carried by the hub 28, the lubricant passing through alined radial openings in the hub and the bushing directly tothe axle, as clearly shown in Fig. 3.

The spokes are secured upon the tube or sleeve 23 at intervals along the same and to the outer ends of the spokes is secured a spiral blade 33. This blade is formed from tempered steel and has its outer edge beveled to a sharp edge so as to readily cut into the ground and inasmuch as the blade will present a continuous cutting edge to the ground and will rotate as the machine is drawn over the field, the soil will be thoroughly pulverized and placed in proper condition for successful cultivation. The inner face of the blade is flat and it, therefore, penetrates the soil more readily than a blade having a (lished or concave surface will penetrate. By reason of having a sharp outer edge and a flat inner face, the blade will penetrate very deeply so that a very deep seed bed can be obtained. Moreover, the flat inner face of the blade will not hold dirt as a dished or concave face does, and, consequently, polishes more readily and remains in operative condition for a longer period than blades heretofore known. The outer extremities of the spokes are offset or turned, as indicated at 3L1, to conform to the obliquity of the spiral blade and thereby hold the said blade in the proper shape to successfully cut into and turn over and pulverize the soil.

The body of each spoke is substantially triangular in cross section, as shown at 35 in Fig. 9, so that the inner face of the spoke will offer no obstruction to the progress of the same and the outer face of the spoke will present an inclined surface to the soil so that it will aid in turning aside that portion of the earth which will be entered by the spoke and the resistance to the forward travel of the machine will be minimized.

sleeve 23 by a set screw, but the remaining spokes are constructed at their inner ends with the split hubs or collars having mating flanges 36 extending from their split edges to receive clamping bolts 37, whereby they may be effectually clamped around the axle sleeve, as will be readily understood. This construction permits the spokes to be very easily and firmly secured to the axle sleeve and at the same time facilitates the removal of the gang or of any spoke when repairs or replacement may be necessary inasmuch as the withdrawal of the bolts 37 will permit the clamping flanges 36 to he separated and the hub end of the spoke then easily slipped off the axle tube. The entire gang may be thus quickly removed without disassembling the entire machine.

Mounted upon the draft har 1 is a seat l standard 38 carrying a scat 39, the lower end of the standard resting on the draft bar between the ribs 4:0 on the under side of a clamping block Ll1 which fits between the flanges of the draft bar and is thereby held against twisting. thc ribs 4.-() in turn holding the standard alined longitudinally with the draft har. On the upper side of the block 1-1 arc transverse ribs 4Q between which is disposed a flat bar L1-3 which projects beyond the sides of the draft bar and has its ends #t4- upturned, said bar 4-3 constituting' a foot rest. Inasmuch as the ribbed construction of the clamping block 41 effectuallj.v prevents displacement of the parts by twisting, a

The outer end saoke has its hub secured to the axle llt) single bolt suiiices to secure the seat standard and the foot rest in position. Upon the side of the draft bar is mounted a setting lever 46, the fulcrum of the lever being carried in a socket 47 formed upon a bracket 4S which is shaped to conform to and be secured against the bottom and the side flange of the draft bar. A segmental rack 49 is provided on the bracket 48 to be engaged by a latch 49 mounted on the lever and manipulated by a bell-crank 51 thereon in the usual manner. rIhe latch is slidably mounted in a housing or box 52 secured on the side of the lever above the rack and having an yopen -lower end through which the rack extends,

the side wall of the boX depending below the teeth of the rack to engage the side thereof, as shown at 53, and thereby maintain the parts in operative relation. The latch fits closely but slidably between the walls ofthe housing and is provided in its lower portion with a slot 54 through which passes the bolt 55 by which the housing is secured to the lever, the movement of the latch being limited by the ends of the slot coming into engagement with the bolt. A second slot 56 is provided in the upper portion of the latch and the sides ofv the latch pass through notches provided therefor in the top of the housing, a spring 57 being disposed within the slot 56 and acting upon the top of the housing and the bottom of the slot to hold the latch normally to and in engagement with the rack.

The lower end of the lever 46 is disposed below thefdraft bar and links 58 connect the same with brackets 59 on the inner heads l5 of the front gangs of the harrow, These gangs are set in the working position by swinging the lever 46 Jforwardly so that the inner ends of the gangs will be moved rearwardly and the gangs, therefore, set so as to converge rearwardly, as shown by dotted lines in Fig. l. A spring 60 is secured to the lower portion of the setting lever and to a tension bolt 6l which is mounted in a bracket 62 secured upon the under side of the draft bar in advance of the lever to aid in setting the gangs in the inoperative position, the spring being expanded when the lever is swung forwardly to set the gangs and contracting as the lever is released so as to relieve the operator of a considerable portion of the strain involved in bringing the gangs to aposition directly across the line of draft, indicated by the full lines in Fig. l. It will be readily understood that the gangs are given a pivotal movement about the bolts 8 when theyare adjusted as described, and to minimize the wear between the parts and to hold the braces 3 and the clamping plates 4 in the proper spaced relation, a spacing sleeve or roller 63 is fitted around the bolt between the said clamping plate and the brace, as will be readily understood.

The harrow may be drawn over the field by draft animals or by a tractor and when 'it is to be drawn 'by a tractor the draft coupling with which tractors are generally equipped may be connected to the coupling plate 64 or directly to the draft bar l. Then the machine is to be drawn by draft animals, it is desirable that the front end of the draft bar be suitably supported so as to relieve the animals, as far as possible, of the weight of the machine and to prevent chaling ofAI their necks and shoulders. For this purpose. the coupling plate 64, which is secured to the lower side of the draft bar at the front end of the same, has its front end engaged between projections 65 on the rear side of a truck body or draft head 66. The end of the plate is pivotally held by a bolt 67 and a reinforcing clip 68 is supported by said bolt and secured to the coupling plate. A clevis support 69 is secured upon the front side of the body 66, and a king bolt 7() is fitted vertically through the center of the said truck body and has its lower end turned forwardly. as shown at 7l. The said forwardly turned end 7l of the king bolt is pivotally mounted in a tubular projection 72 on the front upper side of the skein or axle body 73 to which an aXle 74 is secured by clips 75, as clearly shown in Fig. 4. Ground wheels 76 are mounted upon the ends of the axle 74 and the king bolt is retained in engagement with the tu bular projection 72 by a washer or stop collar 77 and a Cotter pin orio-ther retaining device, indicated at 78, as will be readily understood. The vertical portion of the king bolt is disposed in rear of the projection 72 so as to permit pivotal movement of the axle body upon the end 7l of the king bolt so that the truck may readily pass over irregularities in the surface of the ground. The draft head 66 is formed in front and rear sections which are clamped together and about the king bolt by clips l0() which also secure the clevis support 69 in place. This arrangement permits the draft head to be adjusted vertically upon the king bolt so as to obtain the proper draft upon the gangs and cause them to cut to an even depth throughout their length.

hile the soil maybe efiiciently pulverized by the use of a harrow consisting of a single pair of spiral gangs, my invention contemplates the employment of tandem gangs., the rear gangs 7 9 being duplicates` in I. the construction and arrangement of their parts, of the front gangsbut the rear gangs are set to converge forwardly when the machine is in use so that they will cut into the soil in opposition to the cut of the front gangs and the soil will thus be turned in opposite directions so that it will be very thoroughly pulverized and a' fine mulch produced. The braces 8O of the rear gangs constitute the draft-applyingmembers thereof and are connected at their front ends to the rear end of the draft bar l by a coupling plate 81. .To set the rear gangs, I provide a rocking arm or lever 82 which is fulcrumed in the-front forked end of avbracket 83 upon the cross bar or beam 84 which is securedto and extends between the braces 80. The lewer end of this lever or rocking arm 82 is connected by links 85 with brackets 86 on the inner heads l5 of the front gangs and 'the upper end of the said lever or rocking arm is connected by links 87 with the brackets 88 on the inner heads of the rear gangs, 'The links 8T obviously are bent so as to eX- tend downwardly and clear the inner ends of the weight pans or troughs of the rear gangs, and itwill be readily understoodth-at when the inner .ends of the front gangs are moved rearwardly to bring the said gangsv into the working position, the motion will be transmitted through they links 85, the lever 82 and the links 87 so thatthejinner `leaves the ground and the entering ends of all the gangs engage the ground at the same time. Thus, there is Valways the vsamel length of blade working in each gang and vside draft is prevented.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

l. In a harrow, the combination of a draft bar, a cross bar secured to said draft bar, braces secured to the draft bar andthe cross bar and extending rearwardly beyond the cross bar, clamping plates secu-red to vand extending rearwardly from the cross bar, harrow gangs including weight panspassing between the said clamping plates and the rear portions of said braces7 slotted brackets on the rear sides of lsaid weight` pans, and retaining bolts inserted-through the rear ends of the braces and the clamping plates and passing through said'slotted brackets.

2. In a harrow,fthe combination of a frame having upper and lower vrelatively stationary members, a retaining bolt inneeaeea serted .through `the rear -ends of said upper and lower members, a harrow gang including a weight pan passing between said upper and lower members and ground-engaging members connected with and disposed below said pan, and means on the weight pan for engagingthe bolt inserted through said upperl and lower members and playing freely upon said bolt.

3. I-n a harrow, the combination of a pair of gangs ofsoil-turning members, a second pair of gangs of soil-turning members dis-y posed in rear of the first-mentioned gangs, a ydraft frame, means for supporting all the gangs from said draft frame7 means on the draft frame for adjusting the front gangs pivotally with respect to the frame, a rocking arm mounted upon=the draft frame .between the gangs, links connecting the lower end of said rocking arm. with the, ,inneriends'of the front gangs, andllnks connectingthe upper end of said rocking arm w1tfh'the inner ends ofthe `rear gangs whereby the Vgangs will be simultaneously moved y `rear ends o-fthe braces and the clamping vplates and passing through said slotted brackets, andgspacing sleeves fitted upon said bolts withinrthe slotted brackets.

5. .In y aharrow, :the combination of a channelleddraft bar, afseat standard having -fits .lower end `resting-upon the draft bar, a

clamping lblock fitted in the channel of the draft bar and provided on its under side lwith ribsextending longitudinally of the draft bar and engaging against the side edges ofthe end -of the seat standard, trans- `verse ribs on theu-pper side of said block,

a foot restfitted `between said transverse ribs and projectingbeyond the sides of the.

draft bar, and a .fastening device inserted Avertically through the foot rest, the block, the ,.seatlstanda-rd and the draft bar.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

GHARLES F. MATZ. [Ls] 

